The Nine Days

When the month of Av begins, we further limit our rejoicing to the point where we even avoid anything that can lead us to rejoice. Thus, we do not plant trees meant for beauty or shade. Similarly, we do not undertake any construction or home improvement projects for the sake of luxury, such as redecorating or painting our homes. However, if one has no place to live, he may build a home in this period.

It is prohibited to purchase, sew, weave, or knit new clothing -even if one intends to wear the clothing only after the Ninth of Av. One may not purchase even a used garment if it is because of its beauty. The prohibition of purchasing a new garment is more stringent than wearing a new garment which had been purchased previously.

It should be noted, however, that these restrictions refer only to situations where no mitzvah is involved. For the purpose of fulfilling a commandment - e.g., purchasing new clothing for a bride and groom or building a home for them - these things are permitted. If there is reason to fear that the price of clothing will rise after The Ninth of Av, one may purchase whatever clothes he wishes but should not wear them until after The Ninth of Av.

Beginning from Rosh Chodesh Av, one may not wash clothing even if the clothing will not be worn until after The Ninth of Av. If one has only one set of clothes, however, they may be washed after Rosh Chodesh, until the week during which The Ninth of Av falls.

A person who perspires profusely and needs to change his shirt daily should prepare a number of shirts and wear each of them briefly before Rosh Chodesh. He may then wear them during the week in which The Ninth of Av falls.

In addition to the prohibition of getting their own hair cut, adults are also proscribed from cutting their children's hair, beginning from the seventeenth of Tammuz, and from washing their children's clothing beginning from Rosh Chodesh Av. The clothing of infants, however, may be laundered - even during the week in which The Ninth of Av falls. lf possible, one should not launder large quantities and one should not do so publicly.

It is prohibited to wear new shoes from Rosh Chodesh. However, shoes purchased specifically for The Ninth of Av - e.g., shoes made from canvas or rubber - may be worn even if they are new.

One may make a wedding engagement during this period but no celebration with a festive meal should be held.

From Rosh Chodesh until after The Ninth of Av, it is prohibited to eat meat or drink wine, for during this period the sacrifices and libations in the Bet ha-Mikdash ceased. Through custom this prohibition has been expanded to include food cooked with meat. However, one may eat food that was prepared in a meat pot. The Sephardic custom is to keep these stringencies only in the week in which The Ninth of Av falls. At a festive meal served at a circumcision, pidyon ha-ben, bar mitzvah, or at the conclusion of the study of a Talmudic tractate, etc. - one may eat meat and drink wine.

Starting from Rosh Chodesh, it is customary for the ritual slaughterers to put their knives away. Meat is slaughtered during this period only for the ill, for Shabbat, or for use at a festive meal.

It is customary not to use wine for the Havdalah service, but rather to use beer. The Chabad custom is to recite the Havdalah on wine and have a child who is old enough to understand the importance of the blessing, drink the wine.

Starting from Rosh Chodesh Av [according to Sephardic custom beginning with the week in which The Ninth of Av falls] one may not bathe the entire body - even in cold water. We do not bathe in a pool, a river, or the ocean. However, if Rosh Chodesh Av falls on a Friday, one may bathe in warm water in honor of Shabbat.

The above prohibition refers specifically to bathing for pleasure. One who must bathe for health purposes - e.g., a person whom the doctors ordered to bathe - or a laborer who performs work that makes him dirty, may do so during this period.

On the Friday before Shabbat Chazon - the Shabbat immediately before The Ninth of Av - it is prohibited to wash one's entire body even in cold water. One may wash his face, hands, and feet in cold water. One who customarily washes himself before Shabbat with warm water may use warm water also on this Friday, but only to wash his face, hands, and feet.

One who customarily immerses himself in a mikveh on Friday may do so on the Friday of Shabbat Chazon as well. However, one who only occasionally immerses himself on Fridays should not do so on this Friday.

The Book of Our Heritage
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